Ben le koala

Signes de sens

Ben le koala

Ben le Koala is a pedagogical tool designed with children with autism from 2 years old to help them learn new skills and be more autonomous

Lille, France

FRA

Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit

In France, 1 in 100 children is affected by ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders). The lack of appropriate educational tools is glaring at school and at home. This difficulty in supporting autistic children has a threefold impact: - On these children (increased disorders and risks in terms of somatic and mental health, with self-mitigation, eating disorders, poor hygiene, or refusal of care, etc.) - On the family (parental exhaustion, work stoppage, separation of couples, conflict with siblings, etc.) - On these children's ability to be included in society (maladaptive behaviors, inability to adapt, lack of autonomy, health problems, etc.) Ben le Koala helps address: - The lack of resources for health and social care professionals who support children and who need to better collaborate with families on their child's project - The dismay of ordinary professionals (teachers, dentists, doctors, leisure center leaders, etc.) who often refuse to take care of children due to a lack of appropriate tools Ben le Koala includes: -Tools that have proven their relevance in the field with families and professionals (evaluated on more than 150 children) -26,000 active app users per month (and growing) -Over 150,000 app downloads -Over 2 million views on YouTube since 2013

Ben le Koala is a small animated character who teaches everyday skills to children, whether they have disabilities or not, particularly in the areas of hygiene and health. He makes gestures, and the child learns by imitating him! Ben le Koala is a learning méthod (mobile app + many pédagogical contents for free) designed with children with autism from 2 to 6 years old to help them learn new skills and be more autonomous. Ben le Koala offers free and inclusive educational activities available on a mobile app. The app brings together all the skills (hygiene, dressing, yoga, etc.) in the form of videos, sequences, and printable games. Ben le koala supports families and healthcare and early childhood professionals to support children's development and autonomy, help them recognize their potential, and create connections between all children. It's a tool that allows each child to develop the skills that enable good physical health (hygiene, nutrition, physical activity, etc.) and good mental health (stress management, yoga, self-confidence, time management, and executive functions, etc.).

The beneficiaries of Ben le koala are : - Children aged 2 to 8 with autism/PDD, hearing impairment, or intellectual disability. Although it takes into account the specific needs of children with disabilities, Ben is intended for all children. The goal of the program is to create a mascot character, a teaching reference for healthy child development (both physical and mental health) and the acquisition of independence, that is accessible to as many people as possible. - Professional and family caregivers who support children aged 2 to 8 with disabilities (particularly in the health, medical-social, and medical-educational sectors), but also in the social sector or children without specific needs. - Teachers in special schools and mainstream classrooms. Specific Objectives: - For children: greater independence; better gross motor control; improved fine motor skills; development of executive functions; better lifestyle -For professional and family caregivers: a positive impact on education professionals in implementing learning sequences, a positive impact on family caregivers and improved educational continuity, a growing sense of competence and effectiveness for parents. -For the class and family: creating or strengthening bonds between the child and their peers with or without disabilities, a positive impact on family harmony.